On sober reflection, PM's sports hero is no Aussie

As Australia prepares to battle England for the Ashes, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd revealed Wednesday that his sporting hero did not hail from Down Under and had put Australia to the sword in the 1970s.

Instead of opting for home-grown greats such as Don Bradman or Shane Warne, Rudd nominated West Indian all-rounder Garfield Sobers when challenged to name his all-time favourite sports star.

The Australian leader said was awed by Sobers' achievements, including six sixes from a single Malcolm Nash over in English county cricket in 1968 and a superlative innings for the Rest of the World against Australia in 1971.

"(He was) just a stupendous batsman," Rudd told commercial radio.

"I'll always remember him as a kid knocking up I think 256 not out ... I also remember watching on television once the proverbial six sixes in an over -- a six-ball over!

"I thought this guy has got the gift, the gift of the gods about him.

"So there you go, he's not an Australian. Garry Sobers."

Rudd's recollection of the innings he watched as a teenager may have grown hazy over time, Sobers scored 254, not 256, according to cricketing website Cricinfo.